Orthodox Christian Fellowship Launches Strategic Development

Fishers, IN – January 26, 2011

Founded in 1960, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) supports fellowships on college campuses, whose members experience the Church and witness to Christ through community life, prayer, service to others and study of the Faith. At a time when so many young people are separated from their Church, OCF transforms lives through its local chapters, programs and national conferences.

OCF has grown tremendously over the past decade and now has over 300 college chapters in the United States and Canada. A cadre of trained regional chaplains helps to further OCF’s ministry, which sees students from throughout North America participating in service programs around the globe and graduates reinvigorating parish life here at home.

As is appropriate for an organization at a pivotal time such as this, the OCF Board of Directors is taking a thoughtful look at its achievements, goals, and challenges in order to prepare a course for the future. To do this, the Board and Staff of OCF feel it necessary to know what OCF means to some of those who have worked so hard to make OCF a reality, those who have been impacted by its efforts, and those students who are active in the ministry today.

Over the next six months, OCF will study its reach, impact and effectiveness to determine future goals and objectives. Brigham Nahas Research Associates (BNRA), an independent research firm based in Massachusetts, has been engaged to gather data and perspective, using both stakeholder interviews and a survey of students and alumni involved in OCF.

A confidential survey has been posted on OCF's webpage at www.ocf.net. For the next two weeks, all students and alumni of OCF's ministry are encouraged to take this online survey and help set the course for OCF's future work.

The funding for OCF's strategic development is provided through a matching grant with OCF's ongoing relationship with The Lilly Endowment.

About OCF

Orthodox Christian Fellowship(OCF)is the official collegiate campus ministry program under SCOBA. Our mission is to support fellowships on college campuses, whose members experience and witness to the Orthodox Christian Church through community life, prayer, service to others and study of the Faith. Our headquarters is located in Indianapolis, IN and supports over 300 local university chapters across North America. In addition, we provide a variety of thoughtful and innovative programming, including regional training, annual conferences, as well as domestic and international service learning programs.